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Cherub Inland Championship at Queen Mary Sailing Club

After a week of watching forecast, wondering just what the wind was going to do six Cherubs arrived at Queen Mary to be greeted by some rain showers and not a lot of wind, but with the promise of more for Sunday.

Race 1

Green Bananas (Emma and Nick) and Little Chilli (Dave and Haley) led the fleet off the line on starboard, with King Tubby (Martyn and Oliver) opting for a port tack start. The light and shifty winds made for some tricky conditions both upwind and downwind. Green Bananas and Little Chilli battled all race with King Tubby hanging on being chased by Shiny Beast (Jamie and Ben) and EJ (Jay and Rosie). Whilst the leading pair finished in that order, the tail end order changed on the final downwind leg when a little bit of breeze brought EJ followed by Shiny Beast past King Tubby.

Race 2

The fleet was joined by Ronin (Julian and Helen). All the boats started on starboard with the same Green Bananas and Little Chilli leading followed by EJ, Shiny Beast, King Tubby and Ronin. The wind was dropping and becoming shiftier. Shiny Beast and EJ rounded the spreader mark and headed out to the right hand side with King Tubby opting for the gybe at the spreader and heading off to the left. With the wind dropping further this proved a decisive split. Green Bananas and Little chilli drifted slowly toward the finish, King Tubby just crept in within the races time limit.

Race 3

The wind was going in circles, the race officer postponed whilst the wind eventually settled on a direction 90 degrees to where it had been. Starboard tack starts for everyone except King Tubby, again trying the port tack start. Little Chilli led the way from Green Bananas, whilst a little further back a battle ensued between Shiny Beast and King Tubby. EJ was unfortunately a little late for the start having gone seeking a cup of tea and shelter from the rain during the postponement, and never quite managed to make up the gap.

After a meal at the Premier Inn the happy sailors went their separate way, some opting for the comfort of beds at the Premier Inn and others opting for the short journey to Southampton. Sunday dawned to very wet skies and more wind.

Race 4

With the wind having built to around 20 knots the excitement began Green Bananas and Little Chilli started off with Shiny Beast and King Tubby being a little slower to get to the start. A test of endurance ensued as the wind continued to strengthen Green Bananas led the way round, there were a few capsizes for everyone, upwind and downwind. A massive squall on the beat of lap two recorded by the club at 41 knots, Little Chilli decided that this was enough and headed ashore. King Tubby and Shiny Beast continued round eventually finishing in that order then headed for the shore.

Race 5

Green Bananas made an attempt to start the race but decided to join the rest of the Cherubs on the shore, deciding that discretion was the better part of valour.

All in all a fantastic weekend's sailing and socialising. Thanks go to Queen Mary for hosting us for the weekend and to the race team for getting us racing on two very contrasting days.